Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-01-22
AN OLD MANS STORY.
Written for the Tribune by 7. Il. TINS.

NSFS p~Gb5cuStIS, diloH SiSu t1C Stch oldCsE
with a strong emphasis on were and in re-
ply to my eager questioning look added.
"The girl came safe, but the mother lies
in there"
In a few words the explanation came.
Chargers fever, that scourge of the IS
thmus had stricken down Mrs. Allen, and
only one day before the steamers arrival
she had died.
had expected in Nettie to find a child,
and was considerably surprised when with
trembling lip and tear swollen eyes she
came into the saloon where | stood and
without introduction Or hesitation said in
tremulous though trusting voice:
"You are Mr.. Love | believe"
Yes, Miss Allen, and fully at your SER
vice in this sad hour Of your bereavement"
was my reply.
"Mother said you would be sure to meet
us here, and Mr.. Love, | am wholly help
less now, and shall trust everything to
you"
She was very girlish looking for sixteen,
slender and pale. Her manner was a pc
culiar mixture of womanish reserve and
childlike simplicity. There was not the
least bit of afectation about her as her big
blue eyes looked straight into mine. Pc
Guliar eyes too, large and almost staring
n moment, vague and far off looking the
next. Here voice was very sweet, and yet
it had a most unaccountable modulation.
In a short sentence her tones would change
from a low whisper to a high and most dis
tinct note, and the play of her counter
ance kept time and accord with the ex-
pressions of her voice.
After having seen her safe in the charge
of the hotel proprietor's wife, who, kind
soul, manifested a most tender solicitude
for the orphaned girl. | set about attend
ing the duties which had so Unexpectedly
come upon me.
A cousin Of Mrs. Aliens lived near San
Jose, his name the very common one OF
Brown.
While standing in the Office of the hotel
| heard a man enquire of the clerk for
Mrs. Allen. 1t required but a moments
time to address him, enquire his name and
discover that he was Mr.. Brown. No did
it csnsume much time to make him ac-
quainted with the sorrowful story Of his
cousins death and who I was, and in what
capacity | was acting.
Brown was a rough man exteriorly, not
much prone to long nor polished speeches,
but in him it was easy to discover the
warm heart which beat beneath his blue
and not oyerclean shirt.
The funeral was over, and we had re-
turned to the hotel. Our hostess had ac-
companied Miss Allen to the cemetery and
was now with her up stairs. [ had offer |
ed to resign my trusteeship of the team
into Browns hands but he refused. Say
ing:
l"No, Love; I'm only a rancher, not much
OF a hand st business, and if it amt askin'
too much, just keep hold o what belongs
70 the gal for a while yet at least. Wife
and nell see the child is took care of, and
"C Son' LA up JIG a1OlSf 1IdltClS SUAiC !
other time"
1t was with some difficulty I induced
him to accept the earnings of the team
which l had brought with me; for which
he soon handed me a receipt made out at
his request by the clerk. He would not
take no, for an answer. So next morning
l accompanied Mr.. Brown and Miss Allen
down to the ranch. After a stay of two
days under his hospitable roof I was more
than satisfied that the orphan girl had
found a home whore kindness would be
shown her.
Upon my first meeting with Brown |
had not told him the particulars of Aliens
death, and so before leaving the ranch, out
in the fields I told him the story. He lis
tened attentively and quietly till the close.
His Dyes had a cold look in them when he
said:
"Twas MURDER" and though he said no
other words his mouth corners twitched SO
that his beard danced.
Before parting from him at the 17-mile
house he said:
81 won't tell the girl yet awhile"
My business in Frisco was soon over
with and back to the mountains once more
/ went. / was in luck in those days, my
claim was one of the best on the river and
though money slipped through my fingers
pretty fast still | had easily managed to
lay by a considerable sum.